Filed under: December 2013 | Tags: Birthday, Farming, Life Experiences, Mental Health Draft Horses
Ride along with me!
December 11, 2013
Tomorrow is my birthday. Today is my last day to be fifty-four. It’s just a number they say and I believe “they” are right. I don’t know where time goes…but it sure does go!
I think the secret to not caring much about your age, is to live each day like it is your last one. Stay in touch with people you love and who love you. Enjoy every minute of the day you have been given. Laugh in the rain, bask in the sun and give of yourself. Use your talents and share with everyone.
There are days when I don’t follow my own advice. Those days are usually unhappy, or at the very least, frustrating ones. I try not to have days like those, but life happens. The key is to have the least number of unhappy days possible.
My grandparents were killed in their early fifties. That is a young age to have it all end, BUT…they had such an impact in my life that I cannot measure it. I know they were poor by many standards, but I didn’t know. They had food, all the conveniences of any home at the time, the lights were on, wood heat made the house warm and we watched television in the evening. I think it was all the love in that house that made it complete.
I struggle sometimes to find that happy place. When the world pushes from all directions it’s tough to be the one smiling. I don’t like”drama”. I would rather fix a problem or move on. Many times, the answer is to just move on, let things alone and just forget about it. Many wounds don’t fester if you don’t pick at them.
If I was to give any advice to anyone, that advice would be to find the things that make you happy. Put your hands to work at what your heart desires. It will give your life balance. If you can’t farm at your place in town, have a garden, raise strawberries, compost your leaves, but spend a little time each day playing in the dirt. It will ground you 😮 It will keep your soul happy while you work out the future details…. It worked for me!
I hope to have many more years to laugh and love. I would ask for decades to farm and share my talents with anyone, in person or in print. I will live each day with those things in mind and be ever thankful for what I have.
Some say that I don’t “farm”, but there are cattle grazing in my pastures, sheep grazing and breeding in the lane, sows farrowing in the deep straw and horses waiting to be hitched. My breakfast of eggs, potatoes and ham was grown on this place as was the maple syrup on my oatmeal. So, I’ll just wave at the folks who think I’m just playing around here…I’d say hello…but I’m chewing!
I guess what I’m trying to say is this; go forward doing what you want to do. Don’t be sidelined by the ones who say, ” it can’t be done.” They don’t know the inner you. It may not be easy, whatever you set your mind to, but don’t give up. If you want it, it can be done! Smile at the nay-sayers, as you sink elbow deep into what you love!
Remember, none of us know the number of days we may get, but we can control how we spend them. Life is a bunch of choices. Choose to be happy. Spending time on the negatives only takes away from the positives…let the bad stuff go. Focus on the future … and go get it!
4 Comments so far
Leave a comment
RicelandMeadows 
Happy Birthday (tomorrow) Ralph!!
Comment by jkrysa@visitashtabulacounty.com December 11, 2013 @ 11:59 amLove your positive attitude! If only more people looked at the World in the way you do!
Happy Birthday Ralph:)!!! May there be many more!!!
Comment by Nicole December 12, 2013 @ 6:23 amHappy birthday, Beav! I think you have found the secret to life. I wouldn’t want to be 30 again for anything. I am thankful for every year. Wishing you many more!
Comment by Aunt June December 12, 2013 @ 7:23 amThanks to all of you for the well wishes on my birthday. I think I may have found the gold at the end of the rainbow…it lies within us all. Smile wherever you go, greet the folks you meet and forget the CRAP!
Comment by ricelandmeadows December 12, 2013 @ 4:47 pm